Best Sneakers for Women 2025

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Ask any runner passing by in the neighborhood, and they’ll likely report that their sneaker of choice is one of the many bestselling On shoe styles. The Swiss performance running brand is the name on everyone’s lips right now for good reason. Thanks to an auspicious combination of factors that include aesthetically pleasing design, top-of-the-line technology, and all-day comfort, the best On shoes have quickly become favored by celebrities, athletes, and the fashion set alike since the company was founded in 2010.

Staying true to its continuous flow of new releases that tend to sell out about as fast as you’ll be able to run a mile in them, On dropped a hot offering this past summer: the Cloudsurfer Max shoe, whose maximum cushioning is not just a buzzword but is instead provided by an overachieving, impact-absorbing midsole that will help you crush long distances with ease.

The Cloudsurfer Max is an expansion of On’s highly acclaimed Cloudsurfer line, which “offers the ultimate ride experience and effortless heel-to-toe transitions” on all terrain types, courtesy of Helion superfoam; prides itself in mesh-based breathability that makes the shoes ideal for breaking a sweat; and equips all of its selections with a sequentially collapsing midsole powered by something called the CloudTec Phase, ensuring optimal weight transfers.

Other elements of the sneaker fully justifying a $180 price tag include a knitted tongue that doesn’t leave blisters while holding your foot steady, a grippy outsole bedecked by rubber pads, and a design that’s made futuristic through its maxed-out, carved-out midsole. The foam here is softer than that of previous Cloudsurfers and thus stays true to On’s “Soft Wins” campaign, which stars Elmo and encourages serious runners to embrace their inner softies.

Aside from the buzz surrounding this launch a few months back, On has harnessed popular appeal via its high-profile collaborations and organic celebrity endorsements. Emily Ratajkowski, Gisele Bündchen, Lucy Hale, Goldie Hawn, Oprah (she owns a previous Cloudsurfer version), and even Jill Biden have all stepped out in their On sneakers in recent years.

Furthering its star power, the shoe brand also tapped Zendaya as a brand partner after securing valuable placements in the film “Challengers”; signed on FKA Twigs for a capsule collection of training looks; and teamed up with Loewe on reinterpretations of the Cloudtilt and Cloudventure models. These updated selections were such hits that they sold out in almost all sizes pretty much immediately, and the Cloudtilt Loewe 2 shoe was also the hottest product of 2024’s Q2 according to the Lyst Index. The partnership continued this October, with the unveiling of the label’s first-ever co-designed sneaker — the also-sold-out Cloudsolo Loewe for men and women, which was proof of concept of what happens when Swiss engineering and Spanish craftsmanship meet.

Speaking of all things co-designed, Zendaya and stylist Law Roach came out with their own On style this summer. Dubbed the Cloudzone Moon, the instant hit proved pairable with a wide range of On apparel (think bomber jackets, bodysuits, and shorts), as the campaign’s face aptly matched it to these finds — and more — in official imagery.

It’s clear that On constantly has its finger on the pulse of trends in the universe of fashion. A butter-yellow take on the On Cloud 6 shoe dropped in May, allowing casual and professional athletes alike to indulge in the hue’s runway-approved, pastel glory while staying on their feet. We were also introduced to the On Cloudnova 2 sneaker in White/Orchid: every bit the head-turner based on its subtle pops of mellow purple, another trending shade that’s a wise choice for wearing beyond spring.

As for the editor-approved Cloudsurfer Max shoe in question, it’s available in men’s and women’s sizes and has now expanded to eight distinct colorways (up from the original four). Whether you go for the coral-touched Ivory/Salmon, the summertime-evoking Ivory/Honeydew, or the clean-and-crisp White, one thing is for certain: After lacing up the top women’s sneaker, you’ll feel utterly unstoppable.

Here’s our honest review of the style and what you can expect from it.

How We Tested the On Cloudsurfer Max Sneaker

Editor Testing & Review 2025: On Cloudsurfer Max Sneaker

It’s true — I have a love-hate relationship with running, meaning 80 percent of my months are spent hating it and the remaining 20 percent are filled with occasional jogs in Central Park, during which I slow down my pace far too frequently under the guise of “taking in the view.” Maybe the reason for this attitude is that cardio is not my forte, but I also suspect, historically speaking, that my running shoes have always fit me wrong.

Ten or so minutes into each run, I usually start feeling a marked tiredness in my feet that is sometimes (though very rarely these days) accompanied by shin splints. Additionally, if I walk 20,000 steps a day multiple times a week and go out for a run or two, I can be certain of the fact that I’ll find four new calluses or blisters on my toes and soles come Sunday.

All this is to say: Finding a sneaker that would help me run longer distances, and one which I could also repurpose as a commuting shoe or errand-run shoe, was at the top of my mind for a while. When I had the chance to test On’s Cloudsurfer Max, I hoped that it would change my life (or at least my cardiovascular endurance).

Did it? Miraculously yes, but with caveats. When first unboxing the shoe, I noticed that it weighed a bit more than comparative women’s white sneakers I’ve owned in the past and that the majority of this weight could be attributed to its oversized midsole. When I first took the suave stepper for a spin while walking my dog, this height (rooted in the shoe’s CloudTec Phase cushioning) felt like something I had to adjust to, despite granting a soft underfoot feel and a pleasant, powerful rolling sensation right off the bat. Truly, I felt propelled forward with every step, ensuring I could keep up with each of my Weimaraner’s tugs and pulls.

Next, I proceeded to run a 5K in my new kicks, witnessing more bounce with every liftoff and more stability with every landing. Some sneakers I previously wore weren’t as capable of fully absorbing the harshness of pavement, but my feet felt supported and protected thanks to the On Cloudsurfer Max. I finished my run soaked in sweat and in need of a shower, but the only part of my body not affected by this condition was… you guessed it: my feet. The shoe, after all, has a mesh upper that’s both lightweight and breathable, with strategic perforations that allow for uniform airflow. Speaking of said upper, it’s now embedded with revamped eyestays that maximize both comfort and attractive looks.

In my second week of trialing the sneaker, I decided to play a round of tennis. On this occasion, I felt grateful for the On Cloudsurfer Max‘s knitted tongue — which didn’t rub at the front of my ankles no matter how weirdly I twisted my feet during a (very amateur) game and also contributed to a snug, secure feeling that was only elevated by the sneaker’s flat-knit collar, not present in previous Cloudsurfer iterations.

I don’t count myself part of the wide-feet club, but those who do might find the fit of this shoe a bit too narrow. Also, if you’re someone who already struggles with balance during walks or runs, its heel-to-toe drop could potentially cause some unwanted wobbliness: until, that is, you get used to your On Cloudsurfer Max and fully break into it. Those were about the only issues I’ve noted during my rounds of testing on various surfaces. As for my personal experience with the style? It was like surfing on clouds.

Once all was said and done and I could technically put my On acquisition back in its box, I didn’t want to. In fact, what I wanted to do was go on another run. And so I did, quickly losing track of whether I felt boosted by the song blaring through my headphones or the high-performing shoe.

Reader, it was the latter.

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Shop More Top-Rated On Cloudsurfer Max Colorways for Winter

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Meet the Author

Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD and FN. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska frequently covers new footwear releases and tests them out for added credibility.